Strictly Come Dancing branded a ‘fix’ after Ruth Langsford slated for ‘galloping’ foxtrot as Alexandra Burke and Davood Ghadami top leader board

The This Morning star finished bottom of the leader board
Critiqued: Ruth Langsford with Anton du Beke
BBC/Guy Levy
Emma Powell11 November 2017

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were unimpressed by the judges’ critique of Ruth Langsford’s latest ballroom efforts, accusing the show of being a fix.

The TV star struggled to get to grips with the foxtrot after kicking off the dance out of time to partner Anton du Beke.

Langsford scored 18 points for the performance which was slated by the judges’ who claimed the dance was too fast and resembled a “gallop”.

Resident Mr Nasty, Craig Revel Horwood said: “It lacked any real style, flair or charisma. You messed up on the stairs. One you got into foxtrot you were actually trotting like a horse.”

Head judge Shirley Ballas agreed, saying: “It is called the slow foxtrot and there were so many quicks. I think I only counted one slow. It wasn’t my favourite today. It looked like a quickstep.”

Passionate: Alexandra Burke with Gorka Marquez
BBC/Guy Levy

Darcey Bussell said she was “out of [her] depth,” while Bruno Tonioli added: “It was the fox that lost the trot. It turned into a gallop.”

But fans claimed the judges’ were marking Langsford down after being heavily criticised over their scoring, which saw Aston Merrygold booted out of the competition.

One viewer tweeted: “Wow- this is definitely fixed! Poor Ruth, under marked by the judges just to get rid of her! #Strictly.”

Another wrote: “Is it me or have the judges turned on Ruth and Anton after last week? #strictly ...”

Top scores: Davood Ghadami with Nadiya Bychkova
BBC/Guy Levy

A third posted: “Judges having an unnecessary go at Ruth - just because they messed up last week.”

Langsford wasn’t the only celeb struggling with the dance, with Paralympian Jonnie Peacock receiving a 21 for his attempt, leaving him second from bottom.

Debbie McGee was knocked off of the topspot after making “small mistakes” during her salsa with Giovanni Pernice.

She left Revel Horwood speechless with her fast-paced, lift filled routine which he deemed: “Absolutely ridiculous.”

Davood Ghadami and Alexandra Burke finished joint top of leaderboard with 38 points.

Ghadami got an “a-maz-ing” from Revel Horwood for his Charleston while Tonioli said: “Your star is rising high.”

Burke wowed everyone with her argentine tango – the first of the current series. Tonioli branded her “a magnificent creature filled with undiluted passion” while Revel Horwood said: “You never cease to amaze me. That was incredible.”

Bussell praised the ‘passion,’ while Ballas hailed it “superb”.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One, tomorrow at 7:15pm

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